C&EN's Talented 12

Whether exploring early life or probing reactions in outer space, these rising stars are taking on some of the most vexing challenges in the chemical universe﻿

Welcome to the fourth annual Talented 12 issue. We’ve spent months searching high and low for these bright, young scientific minds and are excited to finally introduce you to them.

Here, you’ll meet a dozen chemists pushing the boundaries in their fields. To say they are tackling life’s great mysteries would be an understatement. The interests of these distinguished researchers include deciphering the chemistry that enabled life on Earth, exploring molecules in far-flung parts of our solar system, designing out-of-this-world materials that can store energy or mimic human organs, and developing technology to precisely alter the code of life.

Whether exploring early life or probing reactions in outer space, these rising stars are taking on some of the most vexing challenges in the chemical universe﻿

Welcome to the fourth annual Talented 12 issue. We’ve spent months searching high and low for these bright, young scientific minds and are excited to finally introduce you to them.﻿

Here, you’ll meet a dozen chemists pushing the boundaries in their fields. To say they are tackling life’s great mysteries would be an understatement. The interests of these distinguished researchers include deciphering the chemistry that enabled life on Earth, exploring molecules in far-flung parts of our solar system, designing out-of-this-world materials that can store energy or mimic human organs, and developing technology to precisely alter the code of life.

Advertisement

Lab loves

This year’s Talented 12 say they can’t survive without these things in the lab

﻿

Credit: Shutterstock

Darryl Boyd: Sticky notes

“My desk is littered with sticky notes on which I jot down new research ideas that I want to pursue.”

Credit: Shutterstock

Morgan Cable: A head scarf

“Gotta keep the wisps of hair out of the eyes when working with chemicals!”

Credit: Shutterstock

Connor Coley: Graphical processing units

Coley says this computer hardware that speeds calculations is “without a doubt” most vital to his work.

Credit: Courtesy of Pedro García Barrantes

Pedro García Barrantes: Liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer

“It allows you to have a lot of information about your reaction in just a couple of minutes, and with minimal sample preparation.”

Credit: Shutterstock

Nicole Gaudelli: Twelve-channel pipettors

Credit: Courtesy of Roxanne Kieltyka

Roxanne Kieltyka: Flash chromatography system

Credit: Shutterstock

Joseph Moran: Gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer

“But our view of the Notre Dame de Strasbourg cathedral is a close second.”

Credit: Shutterstock

Cathy Mulzer: Paper notebook

“I love the ability to grab a pen and some paper to explain what I am working on in the lab.”

Credit: Courtesy of Mónica Pérez-Temprano

Mónica Pérez-Temprano: Nuclear magnetic resonance equipment

Credit: Shutterstock

Jose Rodriguez: Coffee

Credit: Shutterstock

Luisa Whittaker-Brooks: Glove box

Credit: Андрей Ильин/Business Journal/Wikimedia Commons

Y. Shrike Zhang: 3-D bioprinter

This device, Zhang says, allows his group to precisely deposit cells while building miniature versions of organs called organoids.

Lab mascots

Some of our 12 use these to motivate their groups

Morgan Cable: A stuffed echidna in Cable’s lab represents a collaboration with the Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation, which names its instruments after native animals.

Credit: Courtesy of Morgan Cable

Cathy Mulzer: Mulzer says she will forever be a “Dichtel hummingbird.” Ph.D. adviser William Dichtel, who at the time was at Cornell University, tells his students they are a small group that continuously needs to thirst for science and knowledge, like hummingbirds.

Credit: Dichtel Research Group

Mónica Pérez-Temprano: Pérez-Temprano’s lab mascot is a stuffed unicorn, she says, because one of the biggest challenges her students face is trapping highly reactive intermediates, which is like trying to chase a unicorn.

Our 2018 selection process

To assemble this list, we consulted our staff, C&EN’s advisory board, and Talented 12 alumni. And we were blown away by the many nominations from readers submitted through an online form. A lengthy research and evaluation process of roughly 350 people led us to the names before you today.

As an ACS member you automatically get access to this site. All we need is few more details to create your reading experience.

If you have an ACS member number, please enter it here so we can link this account to your membership. (optional)

ERROR 2

Yes! I want to get the latest chemistry news from C&EN in my inbox every week.

ACS values your privacy. By submitting your information, you are gaining access to C&EN and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. We use the information you provide to make your reading experience better, and we will never sell your data to third party members.

More online

Find interactive features and nominate next year’s Talented 12 at cenm.ag/t12.

Contents

Profiles P.40–69

Stats & facts P.50–51

Laboratory loves P.60–61

Talented 12 alumni: Where are they now? P.70–71

Welcome to the fourth annual Talented 12 issue. We’ve spent months searching high and low for these bright, young scientific minds and are excited to finally introduce you to them.

In the following pages, you’ll meet a dozen chemists pushing the boundaries in their fields. To say they are tackling life’s great mysteries would be an understatement. The interests of these distinguished researchers include deciphering the chemistry that enabled life on Earth, exploring molecules in far-flung parts of our solar system, designing out-of-this-world materials that can store energy or mimic human organs, and developing technology to precisely alter the code of life.

To assemble this list, we consulted our staff, C&EN’s advisory board, and Talented 12 alumni. And we were blown away by the many nominations readers submitted through an online form. A lengthy research and evaluation process of roughly 350 people led us to the names before you today. This tenacious bunch are sure to wow the chemistry community with their discoveries for years to come.

Chemical & Engineering News will not share your email address with any other person or company.

Article:

This article has been sent to the following recipient:

Comments

Eric Otterbacher (September 7, 2018 10:06 PM)

I saw the Latest Shows They've Binge-Watched in C&EN print magazine. I wanted to get the list online, but it is not showing in this online article. Why do you leave things off of the online version? this is not the first time this has happened to me.

Leave A Comment

*Required to comment

Lauren Wolf (October 22, 2018 10:32 AM)

Eric, thanks for writing in. For the purposes of readability of our online presentation, we felt it was better to break out their most binge-worthy TV onto their individual profile pages. You can find the shows there. If you want to tell me about other instances where you haven't found things online you've been looking for, please email l_wolf@acs.org. I'd be happy to hear your feedback.